The Arkansaw traveler., 1887-07-09

"I won't take penny less than 800 pounds for it," he said to his wife after the visit of a distinguished art critic to his studio. "Carper says it will take the town by storm-and 30 it will"
 "I wish you could sell it soon," sighed Mrs. Megilp. "I often feel un- comfortable about that dreadful bill of sale-it's like what's -his-name's sword hanging over our heads"
 "Oh, the furniture is safe enough" replied Michael Angelo lightly. 'But 1 tell you what it is, Madge, it handi- caps me frightfully to have a bill of sale registered against me-"
 "Why don't you go and see Zerub- babel, and try to come to terms with him?" suggested Mrs. Megilp. "Of course, he has heard of 'Chloe'-every one has-and if you promise to pay him when you have sold your pie ture, surely he can't refuse to give you back that horrid document"
 Though hardly taking this optimis- tic view of matters, Megilp acted on his wife's advice, and forthwith paid a visit to Mir. Zerubbabel's shop.
 When he had preferred his request, the bric-a- brac seller smiled and shook his head.
 "Micah Zerubbabel wasn't born yes- terday," he said, with a cunning look in his twinkling black eyes. "Your picture mayn't be worth a i've pound note."
 its worth at least 800 pounds, i" broke in the artist, reckoning. Car per said so."
 "Who's Carper? But even if the picture were worth five hundred pounds" grinped Mir. Zerubbabel, Git wouldn't pay me to buy it at such a price. But why do you want to quash the bill of sale?"
 ''I want to be rid of the business. It does not suit me to have a thing of this sort hanging over me-in fact it is against me in my profession"
 Better find the two hundred pounds then" replied the money lender modestly; "but personally am not fond of buying pigs in pokes, or pictures by unknown artists, though perhaps other people may be. It is, however, for you to find them, not for me. Good morning, my dear sir. Sorry can't oblige you."
 "Horrid old scamp" muttered Me gilp, as he left Zerubbabel's shop and turned his face westward.
 "Not to be caught by chaff, my fine shentleman," commented the amiable bric-a- -brac dealer, turning back into his dingy abode. "You don't get off your bargain so easily as !, that" Then he proceeded to unlock a . tireproof safe in the corner of his sanctum, and gloated greedily over ] the documents reposing therein, docu- ments which represented some remark ; ably hard bargains driven by MT. , Zerubbabel with his lawful prey, men in difficulties. He was interrupted in , this pleasant recreation, one in which he usually spent any spare moments , he could snatch from business, by the entrance of friend and compatriot, one Abiram Levi, picture-dealer by profession.
 After an exchange of amicable greetings, the two gentlemen spent . half an hour or so in confidential con- versation on the state of their re- spective trades; then as g pleasant
 des@ucrement after this head work, they imbibed several glasses of brandy 5 and water and smoked as many high , favored cigars.
 Perhaps Mir Levi consumed more { than his fair share of these luxuries. : for in moment of expansion he be- gan to talk over his business projects for the coming season.
 t "l've got a capital thing in view. l
 don't mind telling you about it, Ger ) ubbabel, my dear boy, for you're not . in the same swim, so it doesn't mat t ter. Have you heard of young Me- t gilp's Academy picture?"
 Zerubbabel shook his head, but leaned forward eagerly, with his cun-
 ming eyes fixed on MT. Lewis flushed ' countenance.
 a "Splendid thing-safe to make a l sensation. mean to get hold of ii
 cheap, if can; and as he's only a t young fellow, and apparently hard l up, the chances are I shall" e "Think the picture really worth 0 having?" said Zerubbabel, with a
 deprecatory shrug.
 f "Not doubt about it. You see it's :. an attractive subject, and one that is . sure to take the public. They don't e like your grand historical pictures u They prefer something pretty and - pastoral, and that sort of thing. Bet
 you what you like that Megilp's pic. t turc'll De hung on the line. At al r events, Pm going around to his studio B, in few days to make him an offel Is for it','
 l. Mir. Zerubbabel smiled and rubbed
 his hands complacently. He haf lo.ax s.x.l l. L s ! 4